KU’s Dwight Coleby dunked during the Jayhawks’ pracitce Wednesday afternoon at the Sprint Center, where KU will play Purdue on Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional semifinals. Rich Suggrsugg@kcstar.com

KU’s Dwight Coleby dunked during the Jayhawks’ pracitce Wednesday afternoon at the Sprint Center, where KU will play Purdue on Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional semifinals. Rich Suggrsugg@kcstar.com

Inside the Purdue locker room only moments earlier, the Boilermakers examined another national player of the year candidate and another defensive predicament — Kansas point guard Frank Mason.

“Anytime you can score at all three levels — with mid-range, going to the basket and the three — it makes you a tough matchup. And he can do all three,” Purdue guard P.J. Thompson said of Mason. “He’s had a heck of a year. I look forward to the matchup.”

As simply-stated as Kansas’ defensive focus might be Thursday — limiting Purdue’s front-court effectiveness — the plan on the other side is just as straightforward.

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Purdue's Caleb Swanigan and KU's Josh Jackson and Landen Lucas spoke during media availability on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at Sprint Center in Kansas City. The Boilermakers and Jayhawks will play Thursday.

Purdue's Caleb Swanigan and KU's Josh Jackson and Landen Lucas spoke during media availability on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at Sprint Center in Kansas City. The Boilermakers and Jayhawks will play Thursday.

Chris Fickett and Shelly YangThe Kansas City Star

Purdue guard Dakota Mathias said “Kansas will probably end up being the fastest” team the Boilermakers have played against this season. That description was echoed often Wednesday.

“They’re fast. They’re athletic. They get up and down,” Swanigan said. “They make you pay, (and) if you turn the ball over, they’re going to get a layup. If you take a bad shot, they’ll get a layup. It’s not just sometimes — it’s every time.”

He added: “We have to try to keep them in the half court, but a lot of teams have tried that this year, and they haven’t succeeded.”

And therein will lie the coaching maneuvers behind the juxtaposition of the two teams — play to your strength or guard against an opponent’s strength?

Purdue coach Matt Painter has the option to play two big men against Kansas, which has typically used a four-guard lineup this season. Swanigan is averaging 18.5 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, and reserve 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas has scored 12.6 points per outing.

If Swanigan and Haas share the floor together, it would force an adjustment from top-seeded Kansas. But it wouldn’t be a particularly helpful lineup for slowing Kansas in transition.

Instead, Painter said he will start the more athletic Vincent Edwards at power forward, a better defensive matchup opposite Kansas’ Josh Jackson.